Waiting Eagerly

What are we doing here?

Do you ever ask yourself that? I know I do. We fill our schedules and do the dishes and run from place to place. We fight sin and practice kindness. We learn perseverance and faithfulness.

It's good to be reminded of the WHY. Here are a few verses to help kick-start your morning. They were inspired by a study on the words "waits eagerly" in Romans 8:19, and I'll let them speak for themselves.

For the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. (Rom 8:19)

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. (Romans 8:22-25)

...So that you are not lacking any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1:7)

For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. (Gal 5:5)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Phil 3:20)

So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, who will appear a secnod time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await him. (Heb 9:28)

So... this week, keep reaching ahead!!

A fresh look at suffering

I was encouraged in Romans this week, chapter 5:3-5.

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

So I outlined it. Suffering produces perseverance, which adds character, which builds hope.

And then I applied it to life.

• Suffering: Disobedient Child
• Perseverance: We can't give up. We must continue to consistently train and correct, trusting God's instructions.
• Character: Through this, I develop patience, gentleness, and kindness.
• Hope: Watching it work builds my confidence in God's plans. Plus, I have hope in the future when all relationships will be right, and there will be no more sin and disobedience.

I then took that same method and used it for various sufferings I've experienced and I'm going through with others. It was highly beneficial! And then praise God that with the Spirit, His love is being POURED into our hearts! Amen. :)

Three Weavers: A Lamplighter Book

We just read "Three Weavers" as a family to my kids last night. It was WONDERFUL. It is a quick read, and if you have girls, it is a perfect introduction via a fable of how to talk to them about saving themselves for marriage. It's gentle enough for my 7 year old to like the story, and deep enough for me to read to them again every year until they're out of the house. I highly recommend it!

The Three Weavers

Be sure to use code LAMP52 to get a 15% discount!

Haven't heard of Lamplighter? It's a publishing company that takes old, out of print books and reprints them for us! These books are rare treasures. The Three Weavers was written in 1832!